Glorious Alpha Two Testers!

Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.

Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.

Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.

Being The One or an average joe in MMOs?

T.J Hafer brings up an excellent point in his PC Gamer article "<a href="http://www.pcgamer.com/more-mmos-need-to-let-you-be-an-average-joe/" target="_blank">More MMOs need to let you be an average joe</a>". That I hope the developers will take into account for the game. Sure you can make an effort to be the top guy on the server leading the top guild and city on the server, nothing stopping you from that, but then there needs to be 20000 other people playing with you, a full city's worth of far less ambitious people who just want to make a living having an adventure or two per week, or maybe just socializing in their local tavern turning tricks for profit. An MMO is a space for all kinds to get together and make a fantasy world come to life, and it takes all kinds. You need that guy with the patience to make weapons, and be epic at it, you need that bard to chill in the city and give out buffs so the most ambitious can go after the endgame raids, you basically need people of all types to come together and make a long term persistence where they don't get bored with the game content after having built their guild and metropolis, and that's why we need city stewards, and mayoral bodyguards, and the city guard, and the palace cleric, and the court mage. Even the lowly beggar looking for player handouts has a role to play in the society of a game by just being on the street. I myself come in somewhere at the peak of the bell curve, I don't want to lead the biggest build, I'm not going to be that beggar on the street. I'll probably end up an independent citizen with a reluctant house which is more of a storage shack than anything else, and I'll be supplying leathers and alchemist supplies to the top merchants. So the question is, are you Thomas Anderson, or are you his boss at his old job, just trying to do the best for the company while they're keeping a roof over the heads of your family? Are you Neo, or are you Average Joe?

Comments

  • Based on my work schedule, i'll be that average joe :)
  • Given that the emphasis is on building the world as part of a community, I'd say you are more of an average joe than "The One", at least until you become a king or queen of a node.
  • Think it was hiveleader who was making fun of being "the one" and doing quests like Go feed the pigs for some random farmer..........if your "the one" why the hell would you even talk to that nobody let alone feed his damn pigs?
  • I like how in Aoc there's layers of mechanics and players have lots of different roles. There's more space for doing something special rather than everyone doing the exact same thing with just a minor alteration.
  • I think the primary appeal is for the "Average Joe" since if you look at the lore, you're one of many that made it back to the abandoned lands and everything you do is literally connected to adding onto a collective progression (Nodes). Keep in mind though that instanced PVP will have leaderboards so I think there will still be a big number of "The One" type of players.
  • Man, idk. I told myself i'm gonna be a filthy casual if I play BDO after I leave FF14 but I ended up getting all TET boss gear, all TRI bis accessories and the 2nd level 60 in my guild and probably one of the top 30 to hit level 60 in NA. I even work 50 hours a week. /shrug

    I'm definitely not the kind of person to be "the one" in a game but i get stuff done faster than your average casual player by playing casually on my own term.
  • Yes, the author is touching on a real no-brainer topic there. The way MMOs give you a storyline where you are 'The One'... along with every other player in the game, is ridiculous. I don't know a single person, in the 100s of people I've shared guilds with over the years who have EVER thought it was a good system.
  • yeah i hate the "you are the one" crap in MMOs. it doesnt make me work harder at it cos i know there are 10000 others who are the one and can do the heavy lifting if i dont do it :)
  • I'm a Sage.

    I desire to know everything about a game, but I've basically given up being 'good' at them and am content with being competent.
  • This MMO caters to both the average joe and the one players.
    as an average joe you can just settle in a node and live a quiet life, socialize, have fun. you contribute to your node and help out wherever it's possible.
    The one players can go chasing after the prestigious positions, mayor, king/queen whatnot, which is expect will be hotly competed for. that's what brings them the thrill, let them go ahead with it.
    me, I'm an average joe. there's only so much you can do with college around.
  • If you devote all your life to one thing.....you deprive yourself of experiencing everything else.
    :D

    So, average joe here too I guess.
  • As much as i'd want to spend time playing this game, not for self purposes only, but to help the in-game community/ node system and my guild and our alliances, However I have a RL family and work to take care of. So I'd definitely be a casual player - average joe. But this Average Joe will stride to help whoever and however, and to defend at any costs!
  • I am the Juan!
  • Just as long as I can carry my tasks and roles, and It makes me happy while not affecting others then it's fine.

    It's what you do that defines you, both has adv* and dis* but all in all it's a social game, so more likely try to include everyone's sake in a decision. If it really turns out the way the devs and desgs are doing it, It will probably need a good centralized community where everyone can actually be heard.. even if you are just an average joe.

    Like if a Winter Dragon brings a forever catastrophe on an area that it renders some instances unreachable, it is actually fine as long as it spawns underlings with a good "special drop" like a rare ore or something.. What I am going is, it needs a living body to act not solely on personal gain but the gain of the node.. Or just destroy the node if need be.. anyways

    Cheers!
  • Every player character is the ONE at whatever they do.
  • <blockquote><div class="d4p-bbp-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/being-the-one-or-an-average-joe-in-mmos/page/2/#post-25192">Dygz wrote:</a></div>Every player character is the ONE at whatever they do.

    </blockquote>

    I have to agree, Set your own goals achieve them at your own pace. This is a GAME, not a job. do what you enjoy and have fun. I think this game will attract a lot of old school gamers and like minded people. Just dont join a guild labled hard core ;)
  • I have to agree, Set your own goals achieve them at your own pace. This is a GAME, not a job. do what you enjoy and have fun. I think this game will attract a lot of old school gamers and like minded people. Just dont join a guild labled hard core ;)
  • @PJ_Rydecker "Just dont join a guild labled hard core"

    "Hard core PvX guild [insert name] now recruiting experienced and geared raiders and dedicated crafters! Level XX and up only! We have a DKP system and use [gearscore addon]!"


    That was painful to type, now I need to lie down.
  • <blockquote><div class="d4p-bbp-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/being-the-one-or-an-average-joe-in-mmos/page/2/#post-25489">SageVonAwesome wrote:</a></div><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/users/pj_rydecker/" rel="nofollow">@pj_rydecker</a> “Just dont join a guild labled hard core”

    “Hard core PvX guild [insert name] now recruiting experienced and geared raiders and dedicated crafters! Level XX and up only! We have a DKP system and use [gearscore addon]!”

    That was painful to type, now I need to lie down.

    </blockquote>

    LOL. That was painful to read. Think I will go lay down too.
  • LOL! That was painful to read. Think I will go lay down too.
  • Agreed. I am getting that autonomous twitch in my left eye again now.
    ;)
  • LOL the topic above made me laugh :)
    Anyways... Right!

    Whoa this topic is not what I expected when you said an average Joe it through me off!! then again I'm super tired Moving on!

    I love the fact that they made the profession 3 types
    Gather
    Processor
    Crafter


    I love that you need to find someone who can process this material so you can find someone that can craft this item!!
    It really brings the community together the only problem is my lazy ass lol I don't want to spend time in town trying to find X people to do theses things.....

    I guess that's why theirs guilds lol xD

    As Queen/king etc.... God I don't want to have that to much responsibility for me I can lead, but leading an entire economy haha no...

    I'll likely be the person that try's to make all the money in world!!!!!!! xD

    <img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/13B1WmJg7HwjGU/giphy.gif" alt="" />

    Info below!
  • Well, I already thought about all this and I rather be an av, just doing a few things to get by and wat hing events play out. I am looking at this game as I would EO, just wanna mess with the politics and cause a bit of fun. I dont actually know if this game will be as deep as eve, but if it is... well, we will see. =w=
  • I will be an average joe no doubt, I play too many different games and types of games to commit the time to one to truly excel at it.
  • Average Joe for the win. That is what makes the guilds a wonderful thing. A whole group of average Joe's can get together and achieve something no one of them could do alone.
  • Average Joe during the day.
    Murdering hobo during the night. ^^
  • @demisaturn2000 your picture with that comment just made my day :D
Sign In or Register to comment.